DivXNetworks Releases DivX for Mac 5.1

New codec offers speed and quality improvements
By Dave Nagel

DivXNetworks has released an update to DivX for Mac. The new version of the video compression technology--version 5.1--offers a number of improvements in performance and visual quality. It's available now for Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X.

DivX for Mac 5.1 is available in two different configurations, a Pro version and a standard edition. The Pro version is designed for video professionals encoding in the DivX format, offering features such as multi-pass VBR, encoding destination profiles (home theater, high-definition, etc.), pre-processing, crop, psychovisual enhancements and other features. It includes the Advanced SImple MPEG-4 profile. The standard edition uses the MPEG-4 Simple Profile and offers fewer features. Both operate through Apple's QuickTime.

According to DivXNetworks, the new 5.1 version includes up to double the decoding performance of the previous version; two new high-quality encoding modes with improved B-frame support and better motion estimation; a new user interface; a feedback mode for more precise compression control; and new psychovisual modeling.

The Pro version of DivX for Mac 5.1 is available now for $19.95. The standard edition is free. Both support Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X. For more information or to download the software, visit http://www.divx.com/divx/mac.